Multi-channel blood viscosity measuring device

The present invention relates to a multi-channel blood viscosity measuring device, and more particularly, to a multi-channel blood viscosity measuring device capable of automatically and simultaneously measuring the viscosity of one or more blood samples to uniformly measure the viscosity of the blood samples, thereby improving accuracy and reducing work time.

The viscosity of blood is a physical property representing flow resistance due to the flow of blood in a blood vessel and may be specifically divided into whole blood viscosity and plasma viscosity. An abnormal increase in blood viscosity causes an increase in shear stress and flow resistance acting on the inner walls of blood vessels, resulting in a significant increase in risk of developing acute cardiovascular disease and microvascular disease. In addition, plasma viscosity is used to diagnose inflammatory conditions in the body and is one of the main causes of increasing whole-blood viscosity.

Whole blood viscosity exhibits flow characteristics in which the viscosity continuously changes according to the systole and diastole of the heart. This is because the viscosity decreases when blood flows at high speed (when the shear rate is high) due to the mutually complex effects of red blood cells and plasma proteins in whole blood, and conversely, the viscosity increases when blood flows at a slow rate (when the shear rate is low). Fluids exhibiting these flow characteristics are called non-Newtonian fluids. In order to properly understand the non-Newtonian flow characteristics of blood, it is necessary to accurately measure the whole blood viscosity for the entire shear rate (e.g., 1 to 1,000 s{circumflex over ( )}−1).

A recent blood viscosity measuring device allows blood obtained from the body to pass through a flow restrictor tube and measures the flow characteristics of the blood in the flow restrictor tube to measure blood viscosity or hemagglutination rate.

As the prior art, Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0331884 (Device for Simultaneously Measuring Blood Viscosity and Hemagglutination Rate) is disclosed.

However, since a device operator has to manually inject blood through a syringe and measure the viscosity of the blood, it is difficult to supply the blood at a constant pressure and a constant flow rate, making it difficult to measure the viscosity of the blood under the same conditions. In addition, there has been a problem that the manual work took a long time.

In addition, due to the manual work, infection by blood has frequently occurred.

In order to solve these problems, an automated blood viscosity measuring device is being developed. However, after the viscosity measurement of one blood sample is completed, the viscosity measurement of the next blood sample is performed, which takes a lot of work time.

In addition, upon measuring a large amount of blood samples, in the case of late blood samples, the viscosity of the blood is measured in a state in which red blood cells have settled over time, resulting in a problem of low viscosity measurement accuracy.

In order to solve the problems described above, the present invention aims to provide a multi-channel blood viscosity measuring device capable of automatically and simultaneously measuring the viscosity of one or more blood samples to uniformly measure the viscosity of the blood samples, thereby improving accuracy and reducing work time.

In order to solve the above problems, a multi-channel blood viscosity measuring device, according to an embodiment of the present invention, may include: a blood sample preprocessing unit for scanning and shaking a blood collection tube and then removing a blood collection tube cover therefrom; a blood sample transfer unit for moving the blood collection tube stably placed by the blood sample preprocessing unit; a blood viscosity measuring unit including one or more channels and equipped with a blood viscosity measuring kit to measure a viscosity of an injected blood sample; and a blood sample post-processing unit for mounting the blood viscosity measuring kit on the blood viscosity measuring unit and suctioning the blood sample from the blood collection tube transferred by the blood sample transfer unit to inject the blood sample into the mounted blood viscosity measuring kit.

Here, the blood sample preprocessing unit may include: a preprocessing clamp unit capable of holding and rotating the blood collection tube; and a preprocessing position adjusting unit for adjusting a position of the preprocessing clamp unit.

In addition, the preprocessing clamp unit may include: a preprocessing clamp capable of holding or placing the blood collection tube; a first rotating unit capable of rotating the preprocessing clamp around z-axis, and a second rotating unit capable of rotating the preprocessing clamp around x-axis or y-axis.

In addition, the preprocessing position adjusting unit may include one or more of a preprocessing up-and-down adjusting unit capable of adjusting the position of the preprocessing clamp unit in an up-and-down direction, a preprocessing left-and-right adjusting unit capable of adjusting the position of the preprocessing clamp unit in a left-and-right direction, and a preprocessing front and rear adjusting unit capable of adjusting the position of the preprocessing clamp unit in a front and rear direction.

In addition, the blood sample transfer unit may include: a transfer clamp unit on which the blood collection tube is stably placed by the blood sample preprocessing unit; and a transfer unit connected to the transfer clamp unit to transfer the stably placed blood collection tube.

In addition, the channel of the blood viscosity measuring unit may include: a kit mounting member on which the blood viscosity measuring kit is mounted; a viscosity measuring unit into which the kit mounting member equipped with the blood viscosity measuring kit is inserted and which measures the viscosity of the blood sample injected into the blood viscosity measuring kit; and a kit inserting unit for inserting or withdrawing the kit mounting member into or from the viscosity measuring unit.

In addition, the blood sample post-processing unit may include: a kit clamp unit capable of holding or placing the blood viscosity measuring kit; a pipette unit for suctioning the blood sample from the blood collection tube equipped with a pipette tip and injecting the blood sample into the blood viscosity measuring kit; and a post-processing position adjusting unit for adjusting positions of the kit clamp unit and the pipette unit.

In addition, the post-processing position adjusting unit may include one or more of a post-processing up-and-down adjusting unit capable of adjusting positions of the kit clamp unit and the pipette unit in an up-and-down direction, a post-processing left-and-right adjusting unit capable of adjusting the position of the kit clamp unit and the pipette unit in a left-and-right direction, and a post-processing front and rear adjusting unit capable of adjusting the positions of the kit clamp unit and the pipette unit in a front and rear direction.

In addition, the post-processing up-and-down adjusting unit may include: a kit up-and-down adjusting unit connected to the kit clamp unit and capable of adjusting the position of the kit clamp unit in the up-and-down direction; and an integrated up-and-down adjusting unit connected to the kit up-and-down adjusting unit and the pipette unit to adjust the positions of the kit clamp unit and the pipette unit in the up-and-down direction.

In addition, the multi-channel blood viscosity measuring device may further include: a control unit for controlling operations of the blood sample preprocessing unit, the blood sample transfer unit, the blood viscosity measuring unit, and the blood sample post-processing unit; and a monitoring unit capable of monitoring a viscosity measurement result measured by the blood viscosity measuring unit.

In addition, the multi-channel blood viscosity measuring device may further include a blood sample mounting unit capable of mounting one or more blood collection tubes.

In addition, the multi-channel blood viscosity measuring device may further include a blood viscosity measurement cartridge for storing a blood viscosity measuring kit before use.

In addition, the multi-channel blood viscosity measuring device may further include a pipette tip storage unit for storing a pipette tip before use.

In addition, the multi-channel blood viscosity measuring device may further include a waste processing unit for accommodating a blood viscosity measuring kit for which the viscosity measurement of the blood sample has been completed in the blood viscosity measuring unit.

A multi-channel blood viscosity measuring device according to an embodiment of the present invention is capable of automatically measuring the viscosity of blood samples accommodated in blood collection tubes without a separate operation by a device operator and discarding a waste kit after measuring the blood viscosity, whereby it may be efficient when blood samples are measured in large quantities.

In addition, since the viscosity of each blood sample is uniformly measured, the viscosity measurement accuracy of each blood sample may be improved.

In addition, since the viscosity measurement of one or more blood samples may be performed simultaneously, the work time may be further shortened.

The present invention relates to a multi-channel blood viscosity measuring device. More specifically, the present invention may provide a multi-channel blood viscosity measuring device comprising: a blood sample preprocessing unit for scanning and shaking a blood collection tube and then removing a blood collection tube cover therefrom; a blood sample transfer unit for moving the blood collection tube stably placed by the blood sample preprocessing unit; a blood viscosity measuring unit including one or more channels and equipped with a blood viscosity measuring kit to measure the viscosity of an injected blood sample; and a blood sample post-processing unit for mounting the blood viscosity measuring kit on the blood viscosity measuring unit and suctioning the blood sample from the blood collection tube transferred by the blood sample transfer unit to inject same into the mounted blood viscosity measuring kit.

Hereinafter, the description of the present invention with reference to the drawings is not limited to specific embodiments, and various modifications may be made thereto, and various embodiments may be provided. In addition, the following description should be understood to include all changes, equivalents, or substitutes included in the spirit and scope of the present invention.

In the following description, the terms such as “first” and “second” are terms used to describe various elements, are not limited in meaning itself, and are only used to distinguish one element from another.

Like reference numbers used throughout the present specification represent like elements.

The singular forms, as used herein, are intended to include the plural forms as well unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprise,” “include,” and “have” as used herein are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof.

1 20 FIGS.to Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference toattached herein.

1 FIG. 2 FIG. 3 FIG. 2 FIG. 4 FIG. 3 FIG. 5 a b FIGS.() and () 6 FIG. 3 FIG. 7 FIG. 2 FIG. 8 a b FIGS.() and () 9 FIG. 2 FIG. 10 a b FIGS.() and () 11 FIG. 2 FIG. 12 FIG. 11 FIG. 13 a c FIGS.() to () is a perspective view illustrating a multi-channel blood viscosity measuring device according to an embodiment of the present invention,is a perspective view illustrating the multi-channel blood viscosity measuring device, a portion of which is removed, according to an embodiment of the present invention,is a perspective view illustrating a blood sample preprocessing unit of.is an enlarged perspective view of a preprocessing clamp unit of.are exemplary operation diagrams illustrating a state in which the preprocessing clamp unit of the multi-channel blood viscosity measuring device is operated to scan and shake the blood collection tube, according to an embodiment of the present invention,is an enlarged side view of a preprocessing up-and-down adjusting unit of.is a rotational perspective view illustrating a blood sample transfer unit of.are exemplary diagrams illustrating a process of transferring the blood collection tube stably placed on the blood sample transfer unit of the multi-channel blood viscosity measuring device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.is a rotational perspective view of a blood viscosity measuring unit of.are exemplary operation diagrams illustrating a state in which a blood viscosity measuring kit is mounted and operated in the blood viscosity measuring unit of the multi-channel blood viscosity measuring device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.is a perspective view illustrating a blood sample post-processing unit of.is an enlarged side view of a post-processing up-and-down adjusting unit of.are exemplary operation diagrams illustrating the operation of the post-processing up-and-down adjusting unit of the multi-channel blood viscosity measuring device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

7 The present invention aims to provide a multi-channel blood viscosity measuring device in which the channel of the blood viscosity measuring unitfor measuring the viscosity of the blood sample is formed with multiple channels, and the viscosity of the blood sample accommodated in the blood collection tube is automatically measured without a separate operation by a device operator so that the viscosity of the blood samples is uniformly measured and the time required to measure the viscosity of blood samples in large quantities may be reduced.

1 2 FIGS.and 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Referring to, the multi-channel blood viscosity measuring device may include a housing, a blood sample mounting unit, a blood viscosity measurement cartridge, a pipette tip storage unit, a blood sample preprocessing unit, a blood sample transfer unit, a blood viscosity measuring unit, a blood sample post-processing unit, a waste processing unit, a control unit (not illustrated), and a monitor unit.

1 1 1 First, components of the multi-channel blood viscosity measuring device may be installed in the housing, and the housingmay cover the installed components. The housingmay include a support housing and a cover housing.

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 The blood sample mounting unit, the blood viscosity measurement cartridge, the pipette tip storage unit, the blood sample preprocessing unit, the blood sample transfer unit, the blood viscosity measuring unit, the blood sample post-processing unit, and the like of the multi-channel blood viscosity measuring device may be installed on the upper surface of the support housing and may be covered by the cover housing, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

1 2 In addition, the cover housing is provided with a door so that the user may open the inside of the housingwhen necessary, such as mounting or removing one or more blood collection tubes B to or from the blood sample mounting unit.

2 2 The blood sample mounting unitmay be formed in a shape of a test tube stand so that the blood collection tube B may be inserted upright. At this time, the plurality of blood collection tubes B may be mounted by including a plurality of blood collection tube mounting holes. The blood sample mounting unitmay be formed at one side of the front side on the upper surface of the support housing, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

3 30 3 30 3 8 30 3 The blood viscosity measurement cartridgeis capable of storing the blood viscosity measuring kitbefore use. The blood viscosity measurement cartridgeis preferably formed to store one or more blood viscosity measuring kits. The upper surface of the blood viscosity measurement cartridgemay be opened so that the blood sample post-processing unitmay easily pick up the blood viscosity measuring kit, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The blood viscosity measurement cartridgemay be formed at the central side of the front side on the upper surface of the support housing, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

4 4 The pipette tip storage unitmay store pipette tips before use, and may include a plurality of pipette tip holes into which pipette tips are inserted so as to store one or more pipette tips. The pipette tip storage unitmay be formed at the other side of the front side on the upper surface of the support housing, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

5 2 6 The blood sample preprocessing unitmay detect one or more blood collection tubes B mounted on the blood sample mounting unit, may lift up the blood collection tube B, may scan the blood collection tube B, may shake the blood collection tube B, may stably place the blood collection tube B on the blood sample transfer unit, and may remove the blood collection tube cover therefrom.

5 The blood sample preprocessing unitmay be formed at one side of the upper surface of the support housing, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

3 FIG. 5 50 51 52 53 Referring to, the blood sample preprocessing unitmay include a blood collection tube detecting unit, a blood sample reader unit, a preprocessing clamp unit, and a preprocessing position adjusting unit.

50 52 2 The blood collection tube detecting unitmay be installed at one side of the preprocessing clamp unitand may obtain blood collection tube mounting information, which is information about the locations and number of blood collection tubes B, by detecting one or more blood collection tubes B mounted on the blood sample mounting unit.

50 2 More specifically, the blood collection tube detecting unitmay obtain an image by capturing one or more blood collection tubes B mounted on the blood sample mounting unitthrough laser scanning or image capturing and may analyze the image to obtain the blood collection tube mounting information, which is information about the locations and number of blood collection tubes B.

5 In this manner, the blood sample preprocessing unitmay automatically lift up or place the blood collection tube B according to the blood collection tube mounting information and may measure the viscosity of the blood samples in all the blood collection tubes B.

51 51 The blood sample reader unitmay obtain blood sample information by scanning the blood collection tube B. That is, the blood sample reader unitmay scan a barcode attached to the blood collection tube B to obtain blood sample information about the blood sample accommodated in the corresponding blood collection tube B.

Accordingly, it is possible to identify the blood sample whose viscosity is being measured, and the measured viscosity measurement result may be automatically stored as a result of the corresponding blood sample information.

51 10 In addition, the blood sample reader unitmay transmit the obtained blood sample information to the monitor unitso that the user identify the obtained sample information.

52 2 52 53 52 The preprocessing clamp unitmay hold and rotate the blood collection tube B mounted on the blood sample mounting unit. As the position of the preprocessing clamp unitis adjusted by the preprocessing position adjusting unit, the preprocessing clamp unitmay allow the blood collection tube cover to be removed from the blood collection tube B.

52 53 52 6 2 In addition, as the position of the preprocessing clamp unitis adjusted by the preprocessing position adjusting unit, the preprocessing clamp unitmay insert a blood collection tube cover into the blood collection tube B, to which the blood sample is suctioned and transferred by the blood sample transfer unit, and then mount the blood collection tube cover to the blood sample mounting unitagain. At this time, the mounting position may be the position where the corresponding blood collection tube B has been mounted.

4 5 FIGS.and 52 520 521 522 Referring to, the preprocessing clamp unitmay include a processing clamp, a first rotating unit, and a second rotating unit.

520 520 5200 5201 The preprocessing clampis formed as a symmetrical pair, and may hold or place the blood collection tube B. In this case, the preprocessing clampmay include a gripping grooveand a hooking portion.

5200 520 5200 The gripping groovemay be formed in the inner surface of the lower end of the processing clampso that the upper portion of the blood collection tube B is accommodated. The blood collection tube cover located on the upper portion may be accommodated. Accordingly, the gripping groovemay be preferably formed to correspond to the shape of the cover of the blood collection tube B, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

5201 5200 The hooking portionmay be formed at the lower end of the gripping grooveso that the blood collection tube cover is hung.

6 52 520 Accordingly, the blood collection tube B is stably placed on and fixed to the blood sample transfer unit, and the preprocessing clamp unitmoves upward in a state where the preprocessing clampholds the blood collection tube cover of the blood collection tube B, and thus, the blood collection tube cover may be removed from the blood collection tube B.

521 520 521 520 The first rotating unitmay rotate the preprocessing clamparound the z axis. The first rotating unitmay be connected to the upper side of the preprocessing clampand rotated by 360° around the z-axis.

5 a FIG.() 520 51 Accordingly, as illustrated in, the barcode of the blood collection tube B may be easily scanned by rotating the blood collection tube B held by the preprocessing clampby 360° around the z-axis and scanning the blood sample reader unit.

5 b FIG.() 522 520 522 520 As illustrated in, the second rotating unitmay rotate the preprocessing clamparound the y-axis, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The second rotating unitmay rotate the preprocessing clamparound the x-axis.

522 521 520 The second rotating unitmay be connected to the upper side of the first rotating unit, to rotate the preprocessing clamparound the y-axis.

In the blood sample, red blood cells may sink over time. In this state, when the viscosity of the blood is measured, the measurement accuracy may deteriorate.

522 Accordingly, the blood collection tube B is shaken through the second rotating unitto mix plasma and blood cells of the blood sample, thereby improving the blood viscosity measurement accuracy.

521 520 522 521 522 520 521 522 As described above, the first rotating unitmay be connected to the upper side of the preprocessing clamp, and the second rotating unitmay be connected to the upper side of the first rotating unit, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The structure may be variously changed. For example, the second rotating unitmay be connected to the upper side of the preprocessing clampand then the first rotating unitmay be connected to the upper side of the second rotating unit.

53 1 52 52 The preprocessing position adjusting unitmay be installed in the support housingand connected to the preprocessing clamp unitto adjust the position of the preprocessing clamp unit.

53 530 531 532 52 To this end, the preprocessing position adjusting unitmay include one or more of a preprocessing up-and-down adjusting unit, a preprocessing left-and-right adjusting unit, and a preprocessing front and rear adjusting unit. At this time, all of them may be preferably included to adjust the position of the preprocessing clamp unitby adjusting the up-and-down, left-and-right, and front and rear positions, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

530 52 52 52 The preprocessing up-and-down adjusting unitmay adjust the up-and-down position of the preprocessing clamp unit, and may be connected to the preprocessing clamp unitto move the preprocessing clamp unitin the up-and-down direction.

6 FIG. 530 5300 5301 Referring to, the preprocessing up-and-down adjusting unitmay include a first up-and-down connecting memberand a first up-and-down adjusting unit.

5300 52 5300 5300 The first up-and-down connecting membermay be formed in an ‘L’ shape and connected to the rear side of the preprocessing clamp unit, but the shape of the first up-and-down connecting memberis not limited thereto, and the first up-and-down connecting membermay be formed in various shapes.

5300 5301 52 5301 In addition, the first up-and-down connecting membermay be connected to the first up-and-down adjusting unitto move in an up-and-down direction, and thus, the preprocessing clamp unitmay move in an up-and-down direction. At this time, the first up-and-down adjusting unitmay be preferably connected to the rear side of the lower end, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

5301 5300 5300 5301 52 The first up-and-down adjusting unitmay be connected to the first up-and-down connecting memberto move the first up-and-down connecting memberup-and-down. To this end, the first up-and-down adjusting unitmay be provided as a cylinder installed vertically on the ground, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and various actuators and devices capable of moving the preprocessing clamp unitup-and-down may be applied.

531 52 530 52 The preprocessing left-and-right adjusting unitmay adjust the position of the preprocessing clamp unitin the left-and-right direction and may be connected to the preprocessing up-and-down adjusting unitto move in the left-and-right direction so that the preprocessing clamp unitmay be moved left-and-right.

531 5310 5311 To this end, the preprocessing left-and-right adjusting unitmay include a first left-and-right connecting memberand a first left-and-right adjusting unit.

5310 530 5310 5301 5301 5311 5310 The first left-and-right connecting membermay be connected to the rear side of the preprocessing up-and-down adjusting unit. More specifically, the first left-and-right connecting membermay be connected to the rear side of the first up-and-down adjusting unit. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the first up-and-down adjusting unitand the first left-and-right adjusting unitmay be directly connected without the first left-and-right connecting member.

5311 5310 5310 52 The first left-and-right adjusting unitmay be connected to the rear side of the first left-and-right connecting memberto move the first left-and-right connecting memberleft-and-right so as to move the preprocessing clamp unitleft-and-right.

5311 The first left-and-right adjusting unitmay be provided as a linear actuator installed to have a length in the left-and-right direction, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and various types of actuators, rails, and the like may be applied.

532 52 531 52 The preprocessing front and rear adjusting unitmay adjust the position of the preprocessing clamp unitin the front and rear direction, and may be connected to the preprocessing left-and-right adjusting unitand move in the front and rear direction so that the preprocessing clamp unitmay be moved front and rear.

532 5320 5321 To this end, the preprocessing front and rear adjusting unitmay include a first front and rear connecting memberand a first front and rear adjusting unit.

5320 531 5320 5311 5311 5321 5320 5311 5321 The first front and rear connecting membermay be connected to one side of the preprocessing left-and-right adjusting unit. More specifically, the first front and rear connecting membermay be connected to one side of the first left-and-right adjusting unit. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the first left-and-right adjusting unitand the first front and rear adjusting unitmay be connected in various forms without the first front and rear connecting member. For example, the first left-and-right adjusting unitand the first front and rear adjusting unitmay be directly connected to each other.

5321 5320 5320 52 The first front and rear adjusting unitmay be installed in the support housing and connected to the lower side of the first front and rear connecting memberto move the first front and rear connecting memberfront and rear so that the preprocessing clamp unitmay be moved front and rear.

5321 The first front and rear adjusting unitmay be provided as a linear actuator installed to have a length in the front and rear direction, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and various types of actuators, rails, and the like may be applied.

530 531 532 52 As described above, the preprocessing up-and-down adjusting unit, the preprocessing left-and-right adjusting unit, and the preprocessing front and rear adjusting unitmay be connected to the preprocessing clamp unitso as to adjust the positions in the up-and-down, left-and-right, and front and rear directions, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the connection order may be variously changed.

5 The operation of the blood sample preprocessing unitwill be sequentially described in more detail.

50 2 53 52 52 First, the blood collection tube detecting unitdetects the blood collection tube B installed in the blood sample mounting unitto obtain blood collection tube mounting information. The preprocessing position adjusting unitmay adjust the position of the preprocessing clamp unitaccording to the obtained blood collection tube mounting information, and the preprocessing clamp unitmay hold the blood collection tube B.

52 53 51 521 52 Next, the preprocessing clamp unitis moved by the preprocessing position adjusting unit, and the blood sample readerscans the blood collection tube B. At this time, the first rotating unitof the preprocessing clamp unitmay rotate and scan the blood collection tube B.

522 52 Thereafter, the second rotating unitof the preprocessing clamp unitmay operate to shake the blood collection tube B.

52 53 6 6 52 53 Thereafter, when the preprocessing clamp unitis moved by the preprocessing position adjusting unitso that the blood collection tube B is stably placed on the blood sample transfer unitand the blood collection tube B is fixed to the blood sample transfer unit, the preprocessing clamp unitmay be raised by the preprocessing position adjusting unitand the blood collection tube cover may be removed from the blood collection tube B.

6 52 53 60 Thereafter, when the blood collection tube B into which the blood sample is suctioned is transferred through the blood sample transfer unit, the preprocessing clamp unitmay be lowered by the preprocessing position adjusting unitso that the blood collection tube cover may be inserted into the blood collection tube B. When the blood collection tube cover is inserted, the fixation of the blood collection tube B by a transfer clamp unitmay be released.

52 53 2 Thereafter, the preprocessing clamp unitis moved by the preprocessing position adjusting unitso that the blood collection tube B may be mounted again at the original position of the blood sample mounting unit.

5 The blood sample preprocessing unitmay measure the viscosity of the plurality of blood samples by repeating the above process.

7 8 FIGS.and 6 5 60 61 Referring to, the blood sample transfer unitmay move the blood collection tube B stably placed by the blood sample preprocessing unitin the left-and-right direction and may include a transfer unitand a transfer unit.

5 60 60 600 601 The blood collection tube B may be stably placed by the blood sample preprocessing unit, and the transfer clamp unitmay fix the stably placed blood collection tube B. To this end, the transfer clamp unitmay include a seating memberand a transfer clamp.

600 The seating membermay be provided with a tube seating groove in which the blood collection tube B is seated.

601 600 601 60 The transfer clampmay be installed at one side of the seating memberto fix the blood collection tube B seated in the tube seating groove. In addition, the transfer clampmay be opened when the transfer clamp unitis moved from the other side to one side, and thus, the fixing of the blood collection tube B may be released.

61 60 60 61 The transfer unitmay be connected to the transfer clamp unit, and the transfer clamp unitmay be moved in the left-and-right direction (both directions) by the transfer unit.

61 60 60 61 60 61 60 The transfer unitmay be connected to the transfer clamp unitto transfer the seated blood collection tube B. Specifically, when the blood collection tube B is seated on the transfer clamp unit, and the blood collection tube cover is removed, the transfer unitmay transfer the transfer clamp unitfrom one side to the other, and when the blood sample of the blood collection tube B is suctioned, the transfer unitmay transfer the transfer clamp unitfrom the other side to one side. The above process may be automatically repeated.

61 The transfer unitmay be provided as a linear actuator installed to have a length in the left-and-right direction, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and various types of actuators, rails, and the like may be applied.

6 5 8 The blood sample transfer unitmay be formed between the blood sample preprocessing unitand the blood sample post-processing uniton the upper surface of the support housing, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

9 FIG. 9 FIG. 7 30 70 7 70 7 Referring to, the blood viscosity measuring unitmay measure the viscosity of the blood sample by using the blood viscosity measuring kitand may include one or more channels. The blood viscosity measuring unitmay preferably include a plurality of channelsso that the viscosity of the plurality of blood samples may be measured at the same time. Althoughillustrates that the blood viscosity measuring unitincludes eight channels, the present invention is not limited thereto.

30 70 The blood viscosity measuring kitmay be mounted on the channelto measure the viscosity of the injected blood sample.

70 700 701 702 703 The channelmay include a kit mounting member, a kit guide member, a viscosity measuring unit, and a kit inserting unit.

30 700 700 701 703 702 700 702 30 30 8 The blood viscosity measuring kitmay be mounted on the kit mounting member, and the kit mounting membermay be moved along the kit guide memberby the kit inserting unitand inserted into the viscosity measuring unit. When the kit mounting memberis inserted into the viscosity measuring unitin a state where the blood viscosity measuring kitis mounted, the blood sample may be injected into the blood viscosity measuring kitfrom the blood sample post-processing unit.

700 30 703 In addition, the kit mounting membermay include a kit mounting groove on which the blood viscosity measuring kitmay be mounted, and the kit inserting unitmay be connected to the other side.

701 700 702 700 700 702 The kit guide membermay include a movable guide on which the kit mounting memberis installed. In addition, the viscosity measuring unitmay be installed to be connected to one side of the kit mounting member, so that the kit mounting membermoved along the guide may be inserted into the viscosity measuring unit.

702 701 700 30 30 The viscosity measuring unitmay be installed to be connected to one side of the kit guide member, so that the kit mounting membermounted with the blood viscosity measuring kitis inserted inside and the viscosity of the blood sample injected into the blood viscosity measuring kitmay be measured.

702 In addition, the viscosity measuring unitmay include a viscosity measuring housing and an optical sensor (not illustrated).

30 The viscosity measuring housing may be formed in a box shape, and the other side of the viscosity measuring housing may be opened so that the blood viscosity measuring kitmay be inserted or withdrawn, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

30 In addition, a portion of the other side of the upper surface of the viscosity measuring housing may be formed to be opened so that the blood sample may be injected in a state where the blood viscosity measuring kitis inserted therein, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

30 10 The optical sensor may measure the change in the height of the blood sample injected into the blood viscosity measuring kitover time, and may measure the viscosity of the blood sample. The viscosity measurement result may be transmitted to the monitor unit.

10 FIG. 703 700 30 700 700 702 Referring to, the kit inserting unitmay be connected to the other side of the kit mounting member. When the blood viscosity measuring kitis inserted into the kit mounting member, the kit mounting membermay be inserted into the viscosity measuring unit.

702 703 700 702 30 In addition, when the viscosity measurement of the viscosity measuring unitis completed, the kit inserting unitmay withdraw the kit mounting memberfrom the viscosity measuring unitso that the blood viscosity measuring kitmay be processed.

703 703 700 702 702 To this end, the kit inserting unitis provided as a cylinder and installed horizontally on the kit mounting member. The kit inserting unitmay insert or withdraw the kit mounting memberinto or from the viscosity measuring unitby the inserting or withdrawing operation, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and various actuators or devices (rails, belts, etc.) capable of moving the viscosity measuring unitmay be applied.

8 30 7 6 30 30 9 The blood sample post-processing unitmay mount the blood viscosity measuring kiton the blood viscosity measuring unit, may mount the pipette tip to suction the blood sample from the blood collection tube B transferred by the blood sample transfer unit, and may inject the blood sample into the blood viscosity measuring kit. In addition, the pipette tip and the blood viscosity measuring kitused herein may be discarded in the waste processing unit.

11 FIG. 8 80 81 82 Referring to, the blood sample post-processing unitmay include a kit clamp unit, a pipette unit, and a post-processing position adjusting unit.

80 82 30 The position of the kit clamp unitmay be adjusted by the post-processing position adjusting unit, so that the blood viscosity measuring kitmay be held or placed thereon.

81 30 82 4 9 The pipette unitmay be mounted with the pipette tip to suction the blood sample of the blood collection tube B and inject the blood sample into the blood viscosity measuring kit. The position may be adjusted by the post-processing position adjusting unitso that the pipette tip in the pipette tip storage unitmay be mounted, and the blood sample may be suctioned and injected. In addition, the used pipette tip may be discarded in the waste processing unit.

82 80 81 80 81 The post-processing position adjusting unitmay be installed in the support housing and connected to the kit clamp unitand the pipette unitto adjust the positions of the kit clamp unitand the pipette unit.

82 820 821 822 80 81 To this end, the post-processing position adjusting unitmay include one or more of a post-processing up-and-down adjusting unit, a post-processing left-and-right adjusting unit, and a post-processing front and rear adjusting unit. At this time, all of them may be preferably included to adjust the positions of the kit clamp unitand the pipette unitby adjusting the up-and-down, left-and-right, and front and rear positions, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

820 80 81 The post-processing up-and-down adjusting unitmay adjust the positions of the kit clamp unitand the pipette unitin the up-and-down direction.

80 81 80 81 At this time, a collision may occur when the position of the kit clamp unitand the pipette unit, which have a difference in length, are equally adjusted in the vertical direction. Thus, it is preferable that the positions of the kit clamp unitand the pipette unitin the up-and-down direction is separately adjusted.

820 8200 8201 Accordingly, the post-processing up-and-down adjusting unitmay include a kit up-and-down adjusting unitand an integrated up-and-down adjusting unit.

8200 80 80 The kit up-and-down adjusting unitmay be connected to the kit clamp unitto move the kit clamp unitin the up-and-down direction.

12 13 FIGS.and 8200 8200 8200 a b. Referring to, the kit up-and-down adjusting unitmay include a kit up-and-down connecting memberand a kit up-and-down adjusting unit

8200 80 8200 8200 a a a The kit up-and-down connecting membermay be formed in an ‘L’ shape and connected to the upper side of the kit clamp unit, but the shape of the kit up-and-down connecting memberis not limited thereto, and the kit up-and-down connecting membermay be formed in various shapes.

8200 8200 80 8200 b a b In addition, the kit up-and-down adjusting unitmay be connected to the kit up-and-down connecting memberto move up-and-down, and thus, the kit clamp unitmay move in an up-and-down direction. At this time, the kit up-and-down adjusting unitmay be preferably connected to the rear side of the lower end, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

8200 8200 8200 b a a The kit up-and-down adjusting unitmay be connected to the kit up-and-down connecting memberto move the kit up-and-down connecting memberup-and-down.

8200 80 b To this end, the kit up-and-down adjusting unitmay be provided as a cylinder installed vertically on the ground, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and various actuators and devices capable of moving the kit clamp unitup-and-down may be applied.

8201 8201 8201 a b. The integrated up-and-down adjusting unitmay include an integrated up-and-down connecting memberand an integrated up-and-down adjusting unit

8201 8200 81 8201 8201 a a a The integrated up-and-down connecting membermay be formed in an ‘L’ shape and connected to the rear side of the kit up-and-down adjusting unitand the pipette unit, but the shape of the integrated up-and-down connecting memberis not limited thereto, and the integrated up-and-down connecting membermay be formed in various shapes.

8201 8201 80 81 8201 a b b In addition, the integrated up-and-down connecting membermay be connected to the integrated up-and-down adjusting unitand moved in an up-and-down direction so that the kit clamp unitand the pipette unitmay be moved in the up-and-down direction together. At this time, the integrated up-and-down adjusting unitmay be preferably connected to the rear side of the lower end, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

8201 8201 8201 b a a The integrated up-and-down adjusting unitmay be connected to the integrated up-and-down connecting memberto move the integrated up-and-down connecting memberup-and-down.

8201 80 81 b To this end, the integrated up-and-down adjusting unitmay be provided as a cylinder installed vertically on the ground, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and various actuators and devices capable of moving the kit clamp unitand the pipette unitup-and-down may be applied.

821 8201 b In addition, the post-processing left-and-right adjusting unitmay be connected to the rear side of the integrated up-and-down adjusting unit, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

821 80 81 820 820 80 81 The post-processing left-and-right adjusting unitmay adjust the positions of the kit clamp unitand the pipette unitin the left-and-right direction, and may be connected to the post-processing up-and-down adjusting unitto move the post-processing up-and-down adjusting unitin the left-and-right direction so that the kit clamp unitand the pipette unitmay be moved left-and-right.

821 8210 8211 To this end, the post-processing left-and-right adjusting unitmay include a second left-and-right connecting memberand a second left-and-right adjusting unit.

8210 820 8210 8201 8201 8211 8210 8201 8211 b b b The second left-and-right connecting membermay be connected to the rear side of the post-processing up-and-down adjusting unit. More specifically, the second left-and-right connecting membermay be connected to the rear side of the integrated up-and-down adjusting unit. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the integrated up-and-down adjusting unitand the second left-and-right adjusting unitmay be directly connected at various positions without the second left-and-right connecting member. For example, the integrated up-and-down adjusting unitand the second left-and-right adjusting unitmay be directly connected to each other.

8211 8210 8210 80 81 The second left-and-right adjusting unitmay be connected to the rear side of the second left-and-right connecting memberto move the second left-and-right connecting memberleft-and-right, so that the kit clamp unitand the pipette unitmay move left-and-right.

8211 5311 The second left-and-right adjusting unitmay be provided as a linear actuator like the first left-and-right adjusting unit, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

822 80 81 821 820 80 81 The post-processing front and rear adjusting unitmay adjust the positions of the kit clamp unitand the pipette unitin the front and rear direction, and may be connected to the post-processing left-and-right adjusting unitto move the post-processing left-and-right adjusting unitin the front and rear direction so that the kit clamp unitand the pipette unitmay be moved front and rear.

822 8220 8221 822 532 To this end, the post-processing front and rear adjusting unitmay include a second front and rear connecting memberand a second front and rear adjusting unit. The post-processing front and rear adjusting unitmay be substantially the same device as the preprocessing front and rear adjusting unit, except that the installed position and direction and the connected components are different.

8220 821 The second front and rear connecting membermay be connected to one side of the post-processing left-and-right adjusting unit.

8221 8220 8220 80 81 The second front and rear adjusting unitmay be installed in the support housing and connected to the lower side of the second front and rear connecting memberto move the second front and rear connecting memberfront and rear, so that the kit clamp unitand the pipette unitmay be moved front and rear.

8221 5321 In this case, the second front and rear adjusting unitmay be provided as a linear actuator like the first front and rear adjusting unit, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

82 820 821 822 80 81 In the post-processing position adjusting unit, the post-processing up-and-down adjusting unit, the post-processing left-and-right adjusting unit, and the post-processing front and rear adjusting unitmay be connected to the kit clamp unitand the pipette unitto adjust the positions in the up-and-down, left-and-right, and front and rear directions, but the connection order may be variously changed.

8 The operation of the blood sample post-processing unitwill be sequentially described in more detail.

80 81 82 80 8200 30 30 82 30 7 First, the positions of the kit clamp unitand the pipette unitmay be adjusted by the post-processing position adjusting unit, and the kit clamp unitmay be moved downward by the kit up-and-down adjusting unitto hold the blood viscosity measuring kit. The blood viscosity measuring kitmay be held and then moved by the post-processing position adjusting unitso that the blood viscosity measuring kitmay be mounted on the blood viscosity measuring unit.

80 81 82 81 Thereafter, the kit clamp unitand the pipette unitmay be moved by the post-processing position adjusting unitso that the pipette tip may be mounted on the pipette unit.

80 81 82 81 6 30 82 7 Thereafter, the kit clamp unitand the pipette unitmay be moved by the post-processing position adjusting unit, and the pipette unitsuctions the blood sample of the blood collection tube B transferred to the other side by the blood sample transfer unit, and the blood sample may be injected into the blood viscosity measuring kitmoved by the post-processing position adjusting unitand mounted on the blood viscosity measuring unit.

82 9 Thereafter, the used pipette tip moved by the post-processing position adjusting unitmay be discarded in the waste processing unit.

8 The blood sample post-processing unitmay measure the viscosity of the plurality of blood samples by repeating the above process.

8 30 7 9 Additionally, the blood sample post-processing unitmay process the blood viscosity measuring kit, which has been measured by the blood viscosity measuring unit, through the waste processing unitwhile repeating the above process.

5 6 8 The blood sample preprocessing unit, the blood sample transfer unit, and the blood sample post-processing unitrepeatedly perform the respective operations to automatically and uniformly perform viscosity measurement for the plurality of blood samples.

9 30 30 The waste processing unitmay be formed in the support housing to accommodate the used blood viscosity measuring kitand the used pipette tip and process the used blood viscosity measuring kitand the used pipette tip later.

5 6 7 The control unit (not illustrated) may control the operation of the multi-channel blood viscosity measuring device, such as the blood sample preprocessing unit, the blood sample transfer unit, and the blood viscosity measuring unit.

5 50 For example, the control unit may operate the blood sample preprocessing unitaccording to blood collection tube mounting information received from the blood collection tube detecting unit.

The number of repetitions of each component of the multi-channel blood viscosity measuring device may be determined according to number information of the blood collection tube mounting information, and the operation may be controlled accordingly.

10 10 In addition, the control unit may receive information from each component and transmit the information to the monitor unit, and may receive control setting information from the monitor unitand control the operation of each component accordingly.

10 50 51 70 7 The monitor unitmay receive, from the control unit, the blood collection tube mounting information detected by the blood collection tube detecting unit, the blood sample information obtained by scanning the blood collection tube B from the blood sample reader unit, and the viscosity measurement result measured from the channelof the blood viscosity measuring unitand output the received information to allow the user to monitor the information.

10 In addition, the monitor unitmay receive and provide a variety of information of the multi-channel blood viscosity measuring device, such as operation information and state information of each component.

10 In addition, the monitor unitmay receive the control setting information from the user and control each configuration through the control unit.

30 14 20 FIGS.to The blood viscosity measuring kitused in the multi-channel blood viscosity measuring device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to.

14 FIG. 15 FIG. 14 FIG. 16 a b FIGS.() and () 15 FIG. 17 FIG. 15 FIG. 18 FIG. 14 FIG. 19 a b FIGS.() and () 15 FIG. 20 a d FIGS.() to () 19 FIG. is a perspective view illustrating the blood viscosity measuring kit of the multi-channel blood viscosity measuring device, according to an embodiment of the present invention,is an exploded perspective view illustrating the blood viscosity measuring kit of,are, respectively, a bottom perspective view and a bottom view illustrating micro-channels formed in a kit body of,is a perspective view illustrating a micro-channel cover of,is a front sectional view illustrating the blood viscosity measuring kit of,are, respectively, a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of an injection cover of, andare exemplary diagrams illustrating blood injection holes of the injection cover of, which are formed in different shapes.

14 15 FIGS.and 30 300 301 302 303 304 Referring to, the blood viscosity measuring kit, according to an embodiment of the present invention, may include a kit body, blood tubeson both sides, micro-channels, a micro-channel cover, and an injection cover.

300 301 302 301 302 The kit bodymay be formed of a transparent material, and the blood tubesand the micro-channelsmay be formed to allow blood to flow thereinto. In this way, the inside is formed of a transparent structure so that the situation in which blood is moved in the blood tubesand the micro-channelsmay be checked in real-time.

Accordingly, an error may be recognized during blood viscosity measurement.

300 In addition, the kit bodyis formed within about 60 mm×70 mm (width×height) and is preferably formed in a small size. This may reduce the amount of blood required for blood viscosity measurement. It is necessary to preheat the kit to 36.5° C. so as to make an environment similar to that of the human body when injecting blood. The preheating may be done quickly.

300 3000 3001 303 In addition, the kit bodymay include a first coupling grooveand a second coupling grooveso that the micro-channel covermay be coupled and fixed.

3000 300 3031 3000 a The first coupling groovemay be formed along the outer circumferential surface of the bottom surface of the kit body, and a first coupling protrusionmay be inserted into the first coupling groove.

3001 3000 3001 3031 3001 3001 3020 3020 3021 3021 b The second coupling groovemay be formed adjacent to the first coupling groove. A plurality of second coupling groovesmay be formed in a zigzag manner toward the front and rear along the longitudinal direction, and second coupling protrusionsmay be inserted into the plurality of second coupling grooves. That is, the second coupling groovemay be formed to be positioned between a first bent portionand a first bent portionand between a second bent portionand a second bent portion.

3001 In addition, the upper surface of the second coupling groovemay be inclined downward from the outside to the inside.

301 300 301 300 301 300 The blood tubesmay be formed symmetrically on both sides of the kit body, and the upper sides thereof may be opened so that blood may be injected thereinto. Here, the blood tubesmay be formed to have a length perpendicular to the upper surface of the kit bodywhen viewed from the front, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the blood tubesmay be inclined downward from both sides of the upper end of the kit bodytowards the center.

301 303 301 302 In addition, the lower surfaces of the blood tubesmay be opened, so that the opened lower sides thereof may be sealed by the micro-channel cover. Accordingly, the blood injected into the blood tubesmay flow into the micro-channelswithout leaking to the outside.

301 3010 304 In addition, the blood tubesmay include a cover insertion groove, into which the injection covermay be inserted, at the upper end.

3010 301 301 3010 304 304 The cover insertion groovemay be formed to have a diameter greater than that of the blood tubesat the upper end of the blood tubes. The cover insertion groovemay be formed to correspond to the size of the injection cover, so that the injection covermay be inserted thereinto.

301 302 In addition, the lower ends of the blood tubesmay be connected by the micro-channel.

301 301 302 Accordingly, when blood is injected into one blood tube, the blood may be supplied to the other blood tubethrough the micro-channels.

302 301 301 The micro-channelmay be connected to the lower sides of the blood tubesto connect the two blood tubesto each other.

302 301 The micro-channelmay connect the blood tubesto each other and may have a length in the left-and-right directions, so that blood may flow, but may be formed to be bent.

302 301 302 When the micro-channelis formed in a straight line, there is a limitation in that suitable flow resistance cannot be generated. Due to this limitation, blood fluctuation may occur when the heights of blood in the blood tubesbecome equal to each other. Therefore, this is done for forming the micro-channelbent to freely form a flow resistance to a desired magnitude and prevent fluctuation from occurring.

302 3020 3021 3020 3021 16 FIG. Specifically, the micro-channelmay include a first bent portionbent forward and a second bent portionbent backward, as illustrated in. The first bent portionand the second bent portionmay be alternately formed in the left-and-right direction in a wave shape.

3020 3021 At this time, the first bent portionand the second bent portionmay be preferably formed in a symmetrical shape, and may be formed to be bent in various shapes such as a ‘U’ shape, a semicircular shape, a ‘L’ shape, or a ‘V’ shape.

302 302 301 When the micro-channelis formed as described above, the flow fluctuation may be minimized, and the flow resistance of the micro-channelmay be easily adjusted. Therefore, when the heights of blood in the blood tubesbecome equal to each other, the heights of the blood may be adjusted to a desired flow velocity.

302 A constant blood viscosity measurement is possible only when a flow velocity is constantly maintained by lowering a flow resistance to increase a flow velocity when the amount of blood whose viscosity is measured is small and by increasing a flow resistance to decrease a flow velocity when the amount of blood is large. Therefore, the control of the flow resistance of the micro-channelmay be said to be very important.

Conventionally, in order to adjust the flow velocity, methods of adjusting flow resistance by reducing the size of the channel or making the roughness inside the channel coarser have been used, but these methods have limitations in adjusting the flow resistance to a desired magnitude.

302 302 However, by forming the micro-channelin the above-described structure, one or more of the total number of first and second bent portions, the width W of the first and second bent portions, and the distance L of the micro-channel may be adjusted. The flow resistance of the micro-channelmay be easily adjusted according to a desired condition.

For example, the flow velocity may be adjusted to be slow or fast by increasing the total number of first bend and the second bent portions to increase the flow resistance, or by reducing the total number of first and second bent portions to decrease the flow resistance.

302 302 302 In addition, the size D of the micro-channelmay be at least 0.8 mm or more. This is because blood is a mixture of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in plasma components such as water, and thus, when the micro-channelis formed to less than 0.8 mm, red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and the like are gathered only in the center of the micro-channel, frictional resistance by cells is ignored, and accurate blood viscosity cannot be measured.

302 300 302 302 303 It is preferable that the micro-channelis formed on the bottom surface of the kit bodyso that the lower surface of the micro-channelis opened. At this time, the opened lower side of the micro-channelmay be sealed by the micro-channel cover.

302 302 303 This makes it easy to manufacture the bent micro-channeland allows the micro-channelto be opened by removing the micro-channel coverso that it can be easily cleaned and disinfected after use. Alternatively, even at the time of discard, the blood may be easily washed away and discarded so that it can be kept clean.

303 300 302 301 The micro-channel covermay be mounted on the lower portion of the kit bodyto seal the opened lower sides of the micro-channeland the blood tubes.

17 FIG. 303 3030 3031 As illustrated in, the micro-channel covermay include a sealing protrusionand a coupling protrusion.

3030 302 301 302 301 The sealing protrusionmay be formed to correspond to the shapes of the micro-channeland the blood tubesand may be inserted downward into the micro-channeland the blood tubes.

3030 302 301 302 18 FIG. In addition, the sealing protrusionmay have a height shorter than the depth of the micro-channel. When coupled, as illustrated in, a separation space may be provided so that the blood injected into the blood tubesmay flow along the micro-channel.

3031 3000 3001 300 The coupling protrusionmay be inserted into and coupled to the first coupling grooveand the second coupling grooveof the kit body.

3031 3031 3031 a b. Specifically, the coupling protrusionmay include a first coupling protrusionand a second coupling protrusion

3031 303 3031 3000 300 300 303 a a The first coupling protrusionmay be formed to protrude upward along the outer circumferential surface of the upper surface of the micro-channel cover. Accordingly, the first coupling protrusionmay be inserted into the first coupling grooveof the kit bodyso that the kit bodyand the micro-channel covermay be coupled to each other.

3031 303 300 3031 3031 3031 3001 b b a b The second coupling protrusionmakes the coupling between the micro-channel coverand the kit bodymore firmly. The second coupling protrusionmay be formed adjacent to the first coupling protrusion. A plurality of second coupling protrusionsmay be formed in a zigzag manner in the front and rear directions along the longitudinal direction and may be inserted into the second coupling grooves.

3031 3031 3001 303 b b In addition, the upper surface of the second coupling protrusionmay be inclined downward from the outside to the inside. Accordingly, as the second coupling protrusionis inserted into the second coupling groove, the coupling force may be improved and the micro-channel covermay be easily removed during separation.

304 3010 301 301 81 When the injection coveris inserted into the cover insertion grooveformed on the upper side of the blood tubesand blood is injected into the blood tubeswith the pipette unit, it is possible to prevent bubbles from being formed in the blood by preventing outside air from being injected together with the blood. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the flow of blood from being hindered by air bubbles in the blood.

304 3040 3041 The injection covermay include a blood injection holeand a friction protrusion.

19 FIG. 3040 304 3040 3040 a b. Referring to, the blood injection holemay be formed to penetrate from the upper surface to the lower surface of the injection coverand may include an upper injection holeand a lower injection hole

3040 304 3040 81 81 3040 81 3040 a a a a The upper injection holemay be formed on the upper side of the injection cover, and may have a diameter gradually narrowing from the upper end to the lower end. That is, the upper injection holemay be formed so that the upper portion is wide and the lower portion is narrow. Accordingly, when blood is injected into the pipette unit, the inclined structure of the pipette unitand the upper injection holeare precisely matched, and thus, blood can be injected while the pipette unitand the upper injection holeare in close contact with each other, thereby preventing outside air from being introduced together.

3040 304 3040 b b The lower injection holemay be formed on the lower side of the injection cover, and may have a diameter gradually narrowing from the lower end to the upper end. That is, the lower injection holemay be formed so that the upper portion is narrow and the lower portion is wide.

3040 3040 3040 3040 81 b a b a The lower injection holeand the upper injection holemay be directly connected to each other, but may also be connected by a middle injection hole. The middle injection hole may have the same diameter from the upper end to the lower end to connect the lower injection holeand the upper injection hole. In this case, the introduction of outside air may be more effectively blocked by making the end portion of the inclined structure of the pipette unitcome into close contact.

3040 3040 b a. In addition, the lower injection holemay have a larger diameter than the upper injection hole

3040 81 3040 302 b b When the lower injection holeis formed as described above and blood is injected through the pipette unit, if even a little outside air is introduced together, the introduced air may stay in the lower injection holewithout introducing the micro-channelalong with the blood.

Accordingly, it is possible to effectively prevent formation of air bubbles in the blood.

3041 304 304 3010 The friction protrusionmay be formed to protrude along the outer circumferential surface of the injection cover, and may be fixed more firmly by friction when the injection coveris inserted into the cover insertion groove, thereby preventing outside air from being introduced.

3040 304 20 FIG. On the other hand, the blood injection holeof the injection coveris not limited to the above shape and may be formed in other shapes. This will be described as an example with reference to.

20 a FIG.() 3040 304 As illustrated in, the blood injection holeof the injection covermay be formed to have a diameter narrowing from the upper end to the lower end, and may be formed so that the inclination has a left-right asymmetrical shape. That is, the left inclination may be greater than the right inclination.

3040 3040 b a The lower injection holemay be formed to be connected to the lower end of the upper injection hole, and may have the same diameter from the upper end to the lower end.

3040 81 301 301 Accordingly, when blood is injected into the blood injection holethrough the pipette unit, the blood flows along one side wall of the blood tubes. Therefore, it is possible to prevent blood from splashing inside the blood tubes, thereby preventing the blood viscosity measurement accuracy from deteriorating.

20 b FIG.() 3040 304 As illustrated in, the blood injection holeof the injection covermay be formed to have a diameter narrowing from the upper end to the lower end.

3040 3040 3040 81 301 301 At this time, the blood injection holemay be formed so that the inclination is left-right symmetrical in cross-section, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the blood injection holemay also be formed so that the inclination has a left-right asymmetrical shape. In this case, when blood is injected into the blood injection holethrough the pipette unit, blood may be injected along the walls of the blood tubes. Therefore, viscosity measurement errors may be reduced by minimizing a phenomenon in which blood splashes due to collision with walls inside the blood tubes.

20 c FIG.() 3040 304 As illustrated in, the blood injection holeof the injection covermay be formed to have a diameter narrowing from the lower end to the upper end.

20 d FIG.() 3040 304 3040 81 3040 As illustrated in, the blood injection holeof the injection covermay be formed to have the same diameter from the upper end to the lower end. In this case, the diameter of the blood injection holemay be smaller than the largest diameter of the pipette tip of the pipette unit. Accordingly, when blood is injected, the upper side of the blood injection holemay be sealed by the pipette tip, so that the introduction of outside air may be blocked.

3040 304 3040 301 In addition, the blood injection holemay be formed in the center or on one side of the injection coverso that one wall of the blood injection holecorresponds to the position of one wall of the blood tubes.

3040 304 301 301 As described above, when the blood injection holeis formed on one side of the injection cover, blood may be injected along the walls of the blood tubes. Therefore, it is possible to minimize a phenomenon in which blood splashes inside the blood tubes.

As described above, the multi-channel blood viscosity measuring device according to an embodiment of the present invention is capable of automatically measuring the viscosity of the blood sample accommodated in the blood collection tube without a separate operation by the device operator and discarding a waste kit after measuring the blood viscosity, whereby it may be efficient when blood samples are measured in large quantities.

In addition, since the viscosity of each blood sample is uniformly measured, the accuracy of measuring the viscosity of each blood sample may be improved.

In addition, since the viscosity measurement of one or more blood samples may be performed simultaneously, the work time may be further shortened.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains will understand that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features. Therefore, it will be understood that the embodiments described above are illustrative in all aspects and are not restrictive.